Encourage a Mama
Being a mama requires everyday courage. We need courage to do what we believe, and courage to try to be the best parent we can be, however that might turn out today. Sometimes we need a belly-load of bravery just to get out of bed.
Think of a mama who needs a boost (and that might be YOU or a friend, or your own mother, or any kind of 'mother' in your life).
Print the template under 'instructions' below to make a small card and envelope. You might like to decorate it with simple hand cut paper feathers. If you like, tell us who you're sending it to and why.
A little bit of courage can go a very long way. Be brave and reach out to another mama today.
Instructions
Print off this A4 sheet below (it's a PDF). You could print it straight onto card and cut it out. Or print it onto paper, cut out the paper shapes and use these as templates to make your little envelope and card.
Simply fold along the dotted lines. In the case of the envelope fold all the outside bits into the middle, and stick with glue where they touch.
Decorate your card however you like - with drawings, stickers, paints, crayons.
You might like to mark your friend's bravery with small paper feathers - simply cut these out from paper, using real feathers as inspiration, or using templates like those made by Lia Griffith and others. When you stick them to your card, just glue the middle of each feather, and gently release the sides of the feathers so that they appear slightly lifted from the page.
The tiny card is yours to fill with courage however you want to.
I'm sending one to a good friend, one to a secret person, and one to me.
Click on 'join in' to add a photo of your card to our gallery - we'd love to share the courage even further. If you haven't joined us yet, you'll need to quickly register first.
Click on 'choose file' to add your photo, and upload to load it to the site. Add anything you'd like to tell us about the card in the 'text area' box - if you like, you could tell us who it's for and why, what you wrote inside, or how it felt to make and send it...
This one's going to a mama who is doing amazing creative things right now - bringing together women from all over the world to provide encouragement during those first few months of motherhood. A wonderful brave community project.
This one is waiting for the address of a mother I am thinking about a lot, and wishing well. She's had a hard year and her love and commitment is inspirational.
I'm sending this one a lovely friend who is currently doing the Brene Brown 'Gifts of Imperfection' course with me, which is also all about courage and self-compassion at the moment - a little reminder to keep going :)
This encouragement card is for a mama who feels a little lost in her parenting and has forgotten to listen to her heart- after all, her baby heard it from the inside and so responds best to what comes from it!
This card is winging its way to my good friend, a mama who has been so very brave in exchanging a job she loves for a more balanced family life
Well, this is the flimsiest of the cards I made, I am least proud of the final result as the paint dried out a bit dully - but I loved the calmness of making it, and I'm learning to love my imperfections... I am going to send this one to myself, because I think I deserve a bit of a reminder of how brave I am, all the time.
This is for a mama who is pretty down on her post-baby body
Everyday she did brave things - she just needed to pause and remember them, and to see how amazing she was and is.
I don't know what is happening in this mama's life right now, I just know that it is hard and she needs some courage. So I'll be sending this brave monkey her way.
The only words on this card (written in gold ink) are 'Shine on'.
This is being sent to a friend of mine who has experienced loss, and is perhaps only starting to emerge from a kind of darkness. To me, she shines so very brightly, and I would like to encourage her to simply 'Shine on'.
Sending this to a mama friend who needs reminding that she is very special indeed and I completely believe in her.
This one is for anyone who feels they need it. The source of your strength might surprise you...
This one is going to a mama feeling overwhelmed with the every day.
A strong message for any mama- accept and forgive your failings so your children know how to too, for themselves
Yes, I have a twin sister. We will be turning 40 on Sunday. This is the encouragement card I made her for our birthday.
Sometimes we all doubt ourselves but I wanted to let someone know that they are the best mama!
We have been on a journey she and I, for 32 years. I only look at is as our past is past. Our future is strong and together. She is my best friend. I will take care of her.
This en-courage card is for a mama who is constantly worrying and thinking about the 'what ifs' of her parenting, when really, there is very little we can do as a mama but hold tight and enjoy the ride!
